After talks with the Sturgis Historical Society and the Sturgis Area Community Foundation, the Sturgis City Commission has agreed to relocate the depot building from its current location at 200 W. Main St. to

400 W. Chicago Road.

City officials had discussed relocating the depot building for years.

Because it is considered a historic building, the choice was to move the building rather than renovate the current building.

City manager Mike Hughes said the purpose of relocating was to gain a “more visible location.” The move also allows for an increase in awareness to the community and visitors to Sturgis, Hughes said.

The Sturgis Housing Development Corporation was created to allow the city to purchase and sell residential, commercial, industrial or vacant properties for the use of development, use by the city or improvement of the property. Officially, it had a “meeting” within the city commission meeting Monday.

The Sturgis Historical Society is behind the move, believing the relocation would be positive.

In conjunction with the Sturgis 2022 goal, the parties agreed this move would have an impact on the downtown area.

The plan was approved and funding options are being finalized.

An agreement between the four parties shows the city will assign the rights to the building to the historical society, which then would be responsible for relocating and renovating the building.

After completion of the project, the historical society would transfer ownership back to the city and transfer property ownership to the Housing Development Corporation. That means once the project is complete, the city becomes responsible for maintenence and everyday management of the building.

A plan for the project wil be presented from the historical society that will require approval by Sturgis Area Community Foundation and the city. The foundation will take responsibility of funding, at no cost to taxpayers.